Method of and apparatus for making paper



July 26, 1932. J. D. TOMPKINS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER Filed Aug. 17. 1929 ATTORNEYS fee Patented July 26, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JOHN'D. TOMPKINS, F VALATIE, NEW YORK METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER- Application filed August 17, 1929. Serial No. 386,574.

The invention relates particularly to the extraction or removal of water from a newly to'one side and suction to the other side of the web. Q

A. further object of this invention isthe provision of an apparatus which removes or extracts water from a newly formed web of paper by applying radiant heat to the web in advance of the application of suction so as to efiect the easy removal of a large percentage of the water. In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view showing diagrammatically the invention as applied to a Fourdrinier machine;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the invention applied to a cylinder machine;

Figure 3 is a detail view showing a preferred form of radiant heat generator-suction box construction which may be used in connection with the invention.

In accordance with the present invention,

the newly formed paper web is dried by the aid of radiated heat, preferably in conjunction with a reflector which serves to direct the heat against the web and the felt aprons associated therewith, andcauses heat to penetrate through the same, and also preferably in connection with suction devices which serve to create currents of air passing through the paper web and felt aprons at the point of application of the heat, whereby the air will be heated and serve to carry ed the moisture more eificiently. As shown in the drawing, the reflector is situated in advance of the suction box so as to preheat the water in the web before removal of the water by suction.

I have found that the elimination of moisture in the above manner makes it possible to lead the paper web in a sulficiently dry condition to the drier section of the machine without the use of the usual press rolls which tend to injure the web, with the result that the product more nearly resembles air dried papers in toughness and pliability. It will be understood, however, that the features of the invention may be employed in conjunction with the press rolls, if desired.

The invention is shown in Figure 1 as applied to a paper making machine of the Fourdrinier type, wherein a forming wire 1 passes around a lower couch roll 2 and the newly formed paper web 3 is taken ofi of the forming wire by an upper felt apron 4t guided over a section of the forming wire by an upper couch roll 5 and a roller 6. As shown, the felt apron 4 carries the web 3 automatically from the upper couch roll 5 to a roll 7 which presses the paper web directly against a first drier roll 8. A smoothing roll 7 is provided. which functions to smooth the paper web on the drier roll after the paper web has passed roll 7.

The newly formed paper web while carried along by the forming wire, and between the forming wire and felt apron 4, is subjected to the action of radiant heat generators 9, of which several preferably are employed. I prefer to employ electrically heated grids or coils ofthe glowing type to supply the radiant heat, although it will be understood that they may be heated by steam or other hot gas, if desired.

I prefer, furthermore, to employ in connection with the radiant heat generators, reflectors 10, which serve to augment to a marked degree the heat applied to the paper web, and also to locate suction devices 11 at the points along the web to which the heat is applied, thus producing a current of air through the web under such conditions that Q lit the heat applied will materially increase the dryin eflect of the air current.

As 5 iown in Figure 1, several of the radiant heat generators 9, reflectors 10 and suction devices 11, are applied to the paper web while the latter is carried by the forming wire with its upper surface exposed, and several more of these heaters and suction devices are employed at points where the paper web is carried between the felt apron a and the forming wire. Suction device 11 lying beneath upper felt apron l forms a means for extracting water from the felt apron when washing. llt is to be noted that at the right end of F igure 1 the reflector is in the form of an elongated reflector 10 which houses a plurality of radiant heat generators and which extends beyond the suction devices to preheat the paper web so as to render the water more easily removable. By using an elongated reflector, heat is applied to a continuous area while the suction is applied to a plurality of zones. This permits the re-heating of the web before suction is again applied and effects the removal of a greater proportion of the water. it. plurality of reflectors are located ahead of the elongated reflector for preheating the water in the paper web. By preheating the newly formed Wet paper web the water therein is raised to a temperature near the boiling point of water and the removal by the suction devices is therefore made more effective.

l have found that heating the air above the web by radiant and reflected heat to be very penetrating, effective and economical for the above purposes, whereby the use of the ordinary press rolls may be entirely dispensed with.

In Figure 2 the invention is shown as applied to a paper making machine of the cylinder type, in which a lower felt apron 12 takes the paper web from off the cylinder 13 and around a pressure roller 14, after which the paper web is carried along the lower felt apron 12 and an upper felt apron 15, which latter automatically transfers the web over onto a first drier roll 16, as previously described in connection with Figure 1. A smoothing roll 16 is provided similar to the one shown in connection with Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, several radiant heat generators 9a, reflectors 10a, and suction devices 11a, are employed, and which act upon the paper web and felt aprons While the web is carried along between the latterinawaysimilar to that described in connection with Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, one set of press rolls 17 is employed.

As shown in Figure 3, I prefer to employ in connection with the suction devices 11, a small roller 18 which supports the formingwire or felt aprons in passing over the suction box. lt is to be especially noted that, as shown in this figure, the radiant heater is in teeaerr advance of the suction box. 'llhis preheats the water in the paper web before it is subjected to suction and results in the more eflectual removal of water from the Wet Web.

This case is a continuation in part of my application entitled Method of and apparatus for making paper, Serial No. 218,- 388, filed September 9th, 1927.

l l hile the invention has been described in connection with specific machines it will be d rolls, a radiant electrical heat generator located adjacent the path of travel of said memher, and a heat reflector associated with said generator.

3. A paper making machine comprising a traveling member adapted to carry along a paper web prior to its passage to the drier rolls, a radiant electrical heat generator located on one side of said member, and a suction device located on the other side of said member.

l. A paper making machine comprising a traveling member adapted to carry along a paper web prior to its passage to the drier rolls, a radiant heat generator located on one side of said member, a heat reflector associated with said generator, and a suction device located on the other side of said member.

5. A paper making machine comprising a felt apron and a traveling member therebeneath, adapted to carry along a paper Web between them prior to its passage to the drier rolls, and a radiant heat generator overlying said felt apron.

6. A paper making machine comprising a felt apron and a traveling member therebeneath, adapted to carry along a paper web between them prior to its passage to the drier rolls, a radiant heat generator overlying said felt apron, and a suction device underlying said member near said generator.

7 A paper making machine comprising a traveling member adapted to carry along a paper web prior to its passage to the drier rolls, a radiant heat generator located on one side of said member, and suction device located on the other side of said member, said radiant heat generator being positioned in advance of the said suction device so as to apply radiant heat to the web in advance of the air current.

8. A. paper maln'ng machine comprising a lit] traveling member adapted to carry along a paper web, a plurality of radiant heat gen erators located on one side of said traveling member, and a suction device located on the 55 other side of said member, the radiant heat (iii) generators serving to pre-heat the paper web before it reaches the suction device.

9. The process of making paper which comprises applying radiated electrical heat to a paper web as the latter is carried along in the wet section of a paper making machine.

.10. The process of making paper which comprises carrying along a paper web between felt aprons and applying radiated heat to the web and aprons while so traveling along.

11. The process of making paper which comprises passing a current of air through a newly formed traveling paper web and also applying radiated electrical heat to the web in conjunction with the said air current.

12. The process of making paper which comprises applying radiated electrical heat to one side of a newly formed traveling paper web and applying suction to the other side of said web.

13. The process of making paper which comprises applying reflected heat generated from an electrical source to apaper web as the latter is carried along in the wet section of a paper making machine.

14. The process of making paper which comprises applying radiated and reflected electrical heat to a paper web as the latter is carried along in the wet section of a paper making machine.

15. The process of making paper which comprises first applying radiated electrical heat to a paper web as the latter is carried along in the wet section of a paper machine and then passing a current of air through said web.

16. The process of making paper which comprises applying radiated heat to one side of a newly formed traveling paper web, and also applying suction to the other side of the web, the radiated heat being applied in advance of the suction.

17. The process of making paper which comprises applying radiated heat to a paper we% and their applying suction to the paper we 11.8. The process of making paper which comprises preheating a wet paper web and then subjecting the paper web to the combined influence of radiant heat and a current of air.

19. The process of making paper which comprises preheating a newly formed paper web by means of radiant heat and then passing a current of air therethrough.

20. The. process of malnng paper which comprises heating the air above a newly formed traveling paper web bymeans of radiant heat, applying reflected heat to one side of the web and suction to the other side of thi) web prior to its passage to the drying ro ls.

21. A paper making machine comprising a traveling member adapted to carry along a paper web prior to its passage to the drier rolls, a radiant heat generatorlocated on one side of said member and a suction device located on the other side of said member, said suction device being provided with means adapted to support and convey said traveling member.

22. The process of making paper which comprises applying radiated heat directly to a paper web as the latter is carried along in the wet section of a paper making machine and then carrying the paper web between felt aprons and applying radiated hleat to the web and aprons while so traveling a ong.

23. The process of making paper which comprises applying radiated electrical heat at a plurality of zones to a paper web as the latter is carried along in the wet section of a paper making machine.

24. The process of making paper which comprises carrying along a paper web between felt aprons and applying radiated heat to the web at a plurality of zones while so traveling along.

25. A method of making paper, which comprises, carrying along a paper web in contact with a felt apron, and applying radiated heat to the web and apron while so traveling along and also applying suction to the other side of the web to cause the paper web to adhere to the apron and then transferring the paper web from the apron to a drier.

26.'A method of making paper, which comprises, carrying along the paper Web between felt aprons, applying radiated heat tothe web and aprons on one side thereof to cause the paper web to adhere to one of the felt aprons and then transferring the paper web from the apron to a drier.

27. A method of making paper, which comprises carrying along a newly formed paper Web in Contact with a felt apron, applying radiated electrical heat to the web and apron on one side thereof, applying suction to the other side of the web, the radiated electrical heat acting to cause the paper web to adhere to the felt apron, and then transferring the paper web from the apron to a drier.

28. A. method of making paper, which 4 reeaerr comprises, heating" the air on one side of a newly formed traveling paper Web by means of radiated electrical heat to furnish dry heated air above said paper web, the radiated 5 electric heat also acting to preheat the said paper Web, applying suction to the other side of said paper Web, the radiated electric heat being applied in advance of the suction.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, it

W have hereunto set my hands this 13 day of August, 1929'.

JUHN D. TUMPKINS 

